Psychological dimensions of culture and professional motivation in Russian and German students

Abstract

Relationship between professional motivation and psychological dimensions of culture are studied. The sample includes two groups of Russian students (200 students of Smolensk higher education institutions, 200 students of higher education institutions of other cities and towns of Russia) and a group of 201 German students (a total of 601 subjects). Regression analysis was run and the data obtained using cultural values scale (G. Hofstede) and K. Zamfir technique modificated by A. Rean were analyzed. Interrelation between cultural parameters and peculiarities of professional motivation was confirmed. It is shown that in all students regardless of ethnocultural affiliation the increase of uncertainty avoidance level serves as a prerequisite for a decline of negative extrinsic motivation while collectivist tendencies serve as a prerequisite for a rise of negative extrinsic motivation. Collectivist values in Russian students promote the development of positive extrinsic motivation, while in German students – the development of negative extrinsic motivation. German students are similar to Russian students from Smolensk in that the decline of masculinity-femininity dimension is connected with the rise of positive extrinsic motivation. Peculiarities of Smolensk students also include the following trend: power distance is positively correlated with positive extrinsic motivation, i.e. the higher power distance, the more pronounced positive extrinsic motivation.